“We came to hear and see how we can serve”: Delegation of Aid to the Church in Need in Kyiv
On March 20, representatives of the charitable organization Aid to the Church in Need (Kirche in Not) visited Kyiv and the neighboring towns of Irpin, Brovary, and Kniazhychi. In the capital of Ukraine, they met with the Father and Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
The visit of the organization’s representatives, Aid to the Church in Need, was organized by the Patriarchal Economist and Chairman of the Board of the Patriarchal Foundation Wise Cause, Fr. Lubomyr Yavorsky.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav thanked the members of the Aid to the Church in Need delegation for coming not only to western Ukraine but also to Kyiv and for being keen to hear about the needs of Ukrainians and, thus, respond to them appropriately.
He shared his painful experience of meeting with relatives of the deceased and captives and spoke about the Church’s efforts to free the prisoners, including UGCC priests from Berdiansk.
One of the topics discussed was the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, which is “constantly altering.”
His Beatitude Sviatoslav spoke about the social ministry of the UGCC in the context of the war, indicating the “two arms of the Church’s social ministry” — Caritas Ukraine and Wise Cause. “We have no money but contacts and a good reputation. We are trustworthy. We are a reliable partner for those who want to help Ukrainians affected by the war today,” said the Head of the UGCC.
He also spoke about the pastoral strategy of the UGCC until 2030, one of the priorities of which is to heal the wounds of war. In this matter, he said, the Church acts in partnership with the state, particularly in creating rehabilitation centers in different cities of Ukraine. The Primate also spoke about the practicum for priests who will learn to provide emergency psychological aid and the development of the institute of medical chaplaincy in Ukraine because now “not only patients but also medical workers need chaplains.”
One member of the delegation, Magda Kachmaryk, noted the complexity of the Church’s pastoral ministry under Russian aggression against Ukraine, given that everyone needs to be served, regardless of confessional affiliation.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav recalled with gratitude that on February 24, 2022, Mrs. Magda was among the first to call him, asking: “How can we help you?” “Back then, when everyone was giving us three days, this question was a manifestation of faith in the resilience of Ukraine,” the Head of the UGCC emphasized.
In Kyiv, the delegation visited the Patriarchal Center and the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, which served as a shelter for hundreds of Kyiv residents in the first days of the full-scale war. In Irpin, members of the delegation saw with their own eyes the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the UGCC destroyed by Russian aggression. In Brovary, they visited the Good Samaritan invincibility center and spoke to its residents. Then, they went to the Kyiv Three Saints Theological Seminary, Knyazhychi.
The UGCC Department for Information
